Canadians pride themselves on our global role, but Canada’s dismal performance on climate change, foreign aid, peacekeeping, asbestos, reproductive rights, and the Middle East has taken a heavy toll.

“We can’t get a Security Council seat from Tim Hortons,” remarked Steven Staples, President of the Rideau Institute, recalling Stephen Harper’s choice to attend an Oakville opening of a coffee shop rather than to deliver a major speech at the United Nations last year.

“Prime Minister Stephen Harper may regret snubbing the UN for so long. Now we know if you ignore the world long enough – it will eventually notice,” added Staples.

Canadians are now faced with a choice, he said. “We can continue down the road toward international irrelevance, or we can change course, rebuild and start taking our international responsibilities seriously again.”

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The Russian [nuclear] modernization program was spurred by the US withdrawal, under President George W. Bush in 2002, from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, which Moscow had for four decades regarded as a central pillar of strategic stability. Moscow’s subsequent failure to reach a new agreement with the United States on missile defenses, and the collapse […]